My Bargain Queen Episode 11 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
Ning Meng called Sheng Zhening to express her concern and offer assistance, but he declined. He was living at a friend's house and was about to go into a meeting. He Zhijuan, worried Ning Meng might overthink things, encouraged her to pursue her interests or find a job to keep her mind occupied. That evening, Sheng Zhening went to shower and, noticing the bathroom counter cluttered with Xia Qian's toiletries, tidied them up.
Later, before bed, he remembered Xia Qian's sleepwalking from the previous night and promptly locked the bedroom door. Xia Qian, Fu Shuangshuang, and Mu Xiaoyan discussed various discounts for construction materials. Fu Shuangshuang reported a two-yuan reduction on the floor price, and Mu Xiaoyan secured a fifty-cent discount on wood. Xia Qian instructed them to look into wall paint discounts. She expressed apprehension about handling the large-scale renovation of Building No. 2, admitting she had no experience with multi-million-yuan projects.
Sheng Zhening reassured her that the principles were the same as smaller cases, just on a larger scale, and that bigger volumes allowed for more bargaining power, making it "easier to operate." He commended her performance on the car group buying project. Encouraged by Fu Shuangshuang and Mu Xiaoyan, Xia Qian eventually took the project. She then announced that they would halt all other ongoing cases to focus entirely on the Changsheng Building No. 2 renovation.
Mu Xiaoyan joked about their close ties with Changsheng and expected Xia Qian to treat them to a meal. Meanwhile, Qin Hebo's assistant confirmed that Sheng Zhening had signed a cooperation agreement with Worth Or Not. The assistant suggested leveraging Fu Shuangshuang, who works at Worth Or Not. Qin Hebo, however, stated he had his own plans and actively replied to Fu Shuangshuang's message. Fu Shuangshuang, initially upset by his earlier "cold shoulder," falsely claimed she was resting.
Qin Hebo soon arrived at her door with snacks to apologize. He explained he had just returned from a business trip and that his cleaner had been careless with his cat, promising it wouldn't happen again. Fu Shuangshuang, her anger diffused, offered to care for his cat whenever he was busy. She then showed him a price list she compiled for the Building No. 2 renovation materials on her laptop, which he praised before heading home.
Later, Fu Shuangshuang invited Qin Hebo for dinner, during which she drank heavily. While she rested, Qin Hebo looked at her laptop, recalling the quote for Building No. 2 renovation materials and falling into deep thought. Qin Hebo later called her, thanking her for taking him home and making him breakfast, and invited her to a movie. Fu Shuangshuang accepted, choosing a horror film, which she used as an excuse to cling to his arm, pretending to be terrified.
After the movie, a server at the concession stand mistook them for a couple and offered a special deal. Qin Hebo immediately clarified that they were not a couple, stating that Fu Shuangshuang was his "younger sister." His assistant, who was observing them, felt a pang of jealousy. Sheng Zhening found Xia Qian working late into the night. Exercising his authority as her "employer," he ordered her to get some rest.
Xia Qian playfully retorted that as his "landlord," she had the power to evict him. He conceded, telling her to take a shower and get to bed. The next morning, Xia Qian's mother unexpectedly arrived. Xia Qian, with Sheng Zhening already hidden in the closet, took a long time to open the door. Her mother grew suspicious, asking if she harbored "unpresentable secrets." When Sheng Zhening was discovered, Xia Qian's mother was taken aback.
To address her mother's constant pressure about marriage, Xia Qian seized the opportunity and claimed that she and Sheng Zhening were living together, adding that Sheng Zhening’s "sincerity" had finally won her over. Sheng Zhening played along. Her mother was overjoyed by this development but reminded them to keep her informed of any future milestones like engagement or marriage.
As they prepared to leave for work, Xia Qian reminded Sheng Zhening to maintain his persona as a "lovesick boyfriend" but also declared that their arrangement would end once she found her true love. Sheng Zhening argued he could be the one to dump her, positioning himself as a "scum man." Downstairs, as they got into a car, Mu Xiaoyan spotted them and wondered if they were romantically involved, though Fu Shuangshuang dismissed it as a client relationship.
Mu Xiaoyan decided to keep a close eye on Xia Qian. Feeling bored at home, Ning Meng surprised He Zhijuan by renting a dessert shop directly across from his hospital. She excitedly told him that they could now commute together every day, which she considered very romantic. He Zhijuan, however, expressed reservations, questioning if she could truly commit to running a business, despite her passion for making desserts.
Xia Qian successfully negotiated with material suppliers for the Building No. 2 renovation. She cleverly offered them an exclusive advertising opportunity within the high-traffic areas of Changsheng Hotel, such as the toilets, elevators, and corridors, upon the building's completion. She presented this as a "win-win project," and the suppliers, recognizing the potential exposure, found her proposal "reasonable."
Tragedy struck when An An informed Sheng Zhening that a truck carrying wooden flooring and tiles for Building No. 2 had been destroyed in a mudslide caused by heavy rains in the south. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the material losses were significant, and insurance would only cover a minimal 10% after a lengthy legal battle. Sheng Zhening immediately instructed An An to reorder the materials to avoid construction delays.
Qin Hebo's assistant reported that Sheng Zhening had lost "four carts" of materials, noting that his budget was already stretched thin. Sheng Zhening began calling shareholders to secure additional funds. One shareholder, Mr. Song, declined Sheng Zhening's request for a three-million-yuan loan, acknowledging Sheng Zhening's current financial strain. Sheng Zhening, however, refused to compromise on material quality, stating he would find another way to cover the costs.
Later, Mr. Song approached Qin Hebo, conveying that several shareholders were dissatisfied with Sheng Zhening's handling of the renovation and wished to nominate Qin Hebo as the general manager. He urged Qin Hebo to consider the offer, suggesting it could be easily achieved by swaying Sheng Zhening's key supporters. Qin Hebo informed his assistant that while becoming general manager was appealing, the support of a few minor shareholders wouldn't be enough, emphasizing that Sheng Zhening's decision was the crucial factor.
Xia Qian accidentally discovered an unflattering photo of herself in Sheng Zhening's wallet. She asked for it back, but he refused, saying her mother had given it to him and that she would never find where he hid it. Xia Qian vowed to retrieve it.
She also advised him to act more "annoying" and maintain a distance from her mother, who was becoming too fond of him, to make it easier for her to "dump" him later without her mother's disapproval. Sheng Zhening insisted that his character was that of a "lovesick good man" and he couldn't just change that.
